Delta threatens to eject illegal land occupants in Asaba

ASABA—DELTA State Government, yesterday, said it may be compelled to eject residents of the 5,000 houses allegedly built on government land in the core Area II in the Asaba metropolis at the expiration of the 90 days given to property owners in the affected area to regularise their documents.

Briefing newsmen in his office, Chairman of the Land Regularisation Taskforce, Chief Frank Omare, said that only those who regularised their documents and were issued with Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, would be spared.

Omare said that government would be firm in its decision to ensure compliance within the 90 days given to enable the affected persons regularize.

He said that the state government acquired the said land from the Okpanam community during the military administration of Captain Luke Ochulor (retd) in the early days of the state.

Omare, who also took newsmen on a guided tour of the disputed area, said that demand notices had been served on those concerned.

Meantime, the Chairman, Taskforce on the Recovery of all government land illegally occupied in the core two areas of the capital city territory, Chief Omare, has met with the affected landlords to seek their cooperation ahead of commencement of its operations.

The meeting, attended by other members of the taskforce, provided Omare the opportunity to read out the terms of reference of the assignment to the landowners as well as to know how the landlords feel about the development.

Omare told the landowners that although government was supposed to demolish all illegally acquired structures on its land, the governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, in his magnanimity, approved their regularisation instead of demolishing them.